SpaceX launched their 41st mission of 2025 this evening from Cape Canaveral when the company sent the Starlink 6-72 mission to low Earth orbit aboard Falcon 9. Liftoff was at 11:07 PM EDT and into clear but hazy skies skies on a seasonal night here on the Space Coast.
A good crowd showed up to watch the launch of Starlink 6-72 from Kennedy Point Park in Titusville this evening.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk Of Titusville
Around 8.5 minutes after launching, Booster B1078 successfully completed its nineteenth mission when it touched down on ASDS ‘A Shortfall Of Gravitas’ east of The Bahamas. Booster and barge will now return to Port Canaveral, where B1078 will he offloaded and returned to SpaceX’s Roberts Road facility for preparation for its next mission.
At 12:17 am EDT, SpaceX announced a successful payload deployment, ending the operational phase of the mission.
The launch is SpaceX’s 41st launch of 2025, and the company’s 491st all time.
SpaceX Starlink 6-72 payload deployment announcement on X.com
Payload
28 Starlink satellites, which will join SpaceX’s Starlink constellation that provides Internet connectivity in over 100 countries and territories globally.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
Atlas V 551 | Project Kuiper (KA-01)
Mission
Atlas V 551 | Project Kuiper (KA-01)
Organization
United Launch Alliance
Location
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket
Atlas V 551
Pad
Space Launch Complex 41
Status
Go for Launch
Status Info
Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens
Wednesday, 04/09/2025 12:00:00 PM
Window Closes
Wednesday, 04/09/2025 3:00:00 PM
Destination
Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description
Project Kuiper is a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access. This constellation will be managed by Kuiper Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon. It is planned to be composed of 3,276 satellites, placed in 98 orbital planes across three orbital layers: one at 590 km, one at 610 km, and one at 630 km altitude.
Lightning in the distance as Fram2 rises. Photo: Richard P. Gallagher, Florida Media Now
The Fram2 privately crewed mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center right on time at 9:46 PM ET yesterday. The launch came despite lightning threats in the Space Coast area, with visible strokes in storms south of the launch pad from a passing storm that dumped some much needed rain on the region.
The launch was successful and is SpaceX’s 37th mission out of year so far, out of 91 days since the calendars flipped into 2025. That’s a launch every 2.46 days, putting the company on a 147 launch pace for the year.
Liftoff of Fram2 Photo: SpaceX
Around 8.2 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1085 completed its sixth mission when it touched down on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’, which was stationed offshore in the Atlantic to await the booster.
Now in orbit, Fram2’s crew will begin their suite of experiments, observations and photo/filmmaking. Their return is anticipated to occur in three days.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
Saturday evening, SpaceX will return to launching Starlink satellites.
Upcoming SpaceX Starlink Mission
Organization
SpaceX
Location
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket
Falcon 9
Pad
Space Launch Complex 40
Status
To Be Confirmed
Status Info
Awaiting official confirmation – current date is known with some certainty.
Window Opens
Saturday, 04/05/2025 10:40:00 PM
Window Closes
Sunday, 04/06/2025 3:11:00 AM
Destination
Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description
A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.
SpaceX is set to launch the privately-crewed Fram2 mission aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon this evening from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Liftoff is scheduled for 9:46 PM ET, with subsequent launch windows at 11:20 PM ET, followed by 12:53 AM and 2:26 AM on Tuesday, April 1st.
The Fram2 crew. From left, Eric Philips, Rabea Rogge, Jannicke Mikkelsen and Chun Wang, Photo: SpaceX
What Is Fram2?
The mission draws its name from the polar exploration ship Fram, which served Norwegian explorers such as Fridtjof Nansen and Roald Amundsen between 1893 and 1912. Fram became well-known for its polar expeditions, and now resides in a museum in Oslo. While Fram navigated icy waters of Eart’s polar regions, Fram2 will explore those same areas from a polar orbit.
Mission Commander Chun Wang, a Maltese citizen, will lead a diverse crew that includes filmmaker and artist Norway’s Jannicke Mikkelsen as the vehicle commander, Australia’s Eric Philips as the vehicle pilot, and Germany’s Rabea Rogge as a mission specialist.
This will be the crew’s first trip to space.
Trajectory
The trajectory of Fram2 presents a unique challenge and opportunity. Unlike standard launches, this mission will employ a polar trajectory heading southward nearly 90 degrees from its launch site. This has never been done before on a crewed mission, but the trajectory will allow passes over each pole every orbit.
As the spacecraft ascends, it will skirt along Florida’s east coast before crossing the Straits of Florida and flying over Cuba. The trajectory will offer dramatic views as Fram2 passes overhead of the Palm Beach area in south Florida before easing farther offshore. For residents of that region, tonight’s flight will offer them the closest view of a Falcon 9 ascending as they have ever seen.
Weather
The 45th Weather Squadron has not published any Launch Mission Execution Forecast for the mission this evening.
The National Weather Service’s general forecast for Kennedy Space Center is calling for a 30% chance of storms in the area this evening. They continue that the storms are expected to taper off after 9PM, good news for a planned 9:26 PM liftoff so long as the timing of the storms diminishes on time and before final launch preparations begin.
Fram2 Scientific Objectives
Fram2’s mission objectives include investigating “unusual light emissions resembling auroras.” The crew will specifically focus on green fragments and mauve ribbons of light, phenomena that echo the characteristics of STEVE (Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement), previously noted at altitudes of approximately 400 to 500 kilometers above Earth. This study could provide new insights into atmospheric physics, potentially shining light on phenomena that have puzzled scientists for years.
The Fram2 crew will undertake studies to gain more knowledge of the causes and effects of Space Motion Sickness (SMS), which affects roughly 60% to 80% of astronauts within the first few days of their exposure to microgravity.
Its symptoms mirror those of traditional motion sickness—nausea, vomiting, fatigue, general discomfort, and a loss of appetite. SMS is considered part of Space Adaptation Syndrome (SAS), a broader condition that also includes headaches, back pain, and facial congestion due to fluid redistribution toward the head.
Fram2’s astronauts will also continue the work started by researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Those researchers are seeking a deeper understanding of the effects on the human body of short-term spaceflights, and the Fram2 crew will undergo before and after MRI tests in order to provide data to that end.
All four Fram2 passengers will undergo the same MRI scans that the Polaris Dawn crew did. This research aims to expand scientists’ understanding of how stints in microgravity, which is known to shift fluids in the brain, affect astronauts.
Additionally, the Fram2 astronauts will study blood flow, bone health, glucose regulation, cognition and other effects and procedures of spaceflight. The official list of experiments is below:
A vapor cone surrounds Falcon 9. File photo. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
SpaceX is planning to launch another group of Starlink satellites from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today, weather permitting. The launch window opens at 3:16 PM ET and extends to 7:45 PM early this evening. According to SpaceX, if the mission does not launch today, then “If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Monday, March 31 starting at 2:57 p.m. ET.”
Booster B1080 will power the rocket off of the pad, and will be flying its 17th mission. B1080 has previously flown Ax-2, Euclid, Ax-3, CRS-30, SES ASTRA 1P, NG-21, and 10 Starlink missions. After stage separation, it will land on ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ located offshore in the Atlantic Ocean.
At A Glance
Organization: SpaceX
Location: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket: Falcon 9
Pad: Space Launch Complex 40
Status: Go for Launch
Status Info: Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens: Sunday, 03/30/2025 3:16:00 PM
Window Closes: Sunday, 03/30/2025 7:45:00 PM
Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description: A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.
There is no forecast available from the 45th Weather Squadron for today’s launch at the time of this writing. The National Weather Service general forecast calls for a 50% chance of showers through the forecast period with light winds, so 50/50 sounds like a good guess.
Since those storms may carry electrical activity and/or potential, the lightning, anvil cloud, heavy cloud cover and other launch criteria may apply, but with no official Launch Mission Execution Forecast available, it is impossible to say.
Trajectory
Southeast, towards The Bahamas.
Online Viewing
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: Starlink 6-80 Mission Page. This will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about five minutes before liftoff.
Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link
For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.
Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.
Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.
Launch Viewing: In Person
The best free options are available for spectators: Northern Titusville parks on Washington Avenu / US-1 are your best bets: Space View Park, Sands Park, Rotary Riverfront Park.
Local recommendations also say the Cafe Paradiso and Ven pa’ Ca Café are excellent choices for before, after and even during launches. Grab a bite to eat, walk over to the Indian River and watch the launch.
Vulcan Cert 2 liftoff
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
The United States Space Force has officially certified United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan Centaur rocket for National Security Space Launch (NSSL) missions. This certification follows an extensive evaluation process, including two successful certification flights.
With this approval, ULA is now authorized to conduct NSSL missions, enhancing the nation’s assured access to space by having multiple unique launch service vehicles across multiple vendors. The government seeks this not for operational convenience but instead for tactical agility.
NSSL certification encompasses 52 criteria, involving over 180 specific tasks. These tasks included two certification flight demonstrations, 60 verifications of payload interface requirements, 18 subsystem design and test reviews, and 114 hardware and software audits. This rigorous assessment established the technical foundation for future flightworthiness evaluations.
“The SSC and ULA teams have worked together extremely closely, and certification of this launch system is a direct result of their focus, dedication, and teamwork,” said Gen Panzenhagen, Program Executive Officer for Assured Access to Space.
The Vulcan Centaur rocket features the Centaur V upper stage, measuring 5.4 meters in diameter and 11.7 meters in length, with a propellant capacity of 120,000 pounds. Constructed from pressure-stabilized, corrosion-resistant stainless steel, the Centaur V utilizes two RL10C engines fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. This design aims to provide enhanced performance and flexibility for complex orbital insertions.
ULA Vulcan CERT-2 on the launch mount at Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral on October 3, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
“Thank you to all our customer partners who have worked hand-in-hand with us throughout this comprehensive certification process. We are grateful for the collaboration and excited to reach this critical milestone in Vulcan development,” said Tory Bruno, ULA’s president and CEO.“Vulcan is uniquely designed to meet the challenging requirements demanded by an expanding spectrum of missions for U.S. national security space launches. Moreover, this next-generation rocket provides high performance and extreme accuracy while continuing to deliver to our customer’s most challenging and exotic orbits.”
Flown Twice Successfully, With One Issue
In its inaugural launch on January 8, 2024, the Vulcan Centaur successfully deployed the Peregrine lunar lander. Despite a propulsion issue with the lander that prevented a lunar landing, the Vulcan Centaur performed as intended. A subsequent certification flight on October 4, 2024, experienced a nozzle anomaly on one of the solid rocket boosters but still achieved the mission’s objectives.
With the Vulcan Centaur’s certification, ULA plans to support multiple NSSL missions in the coming years.
ULA Vulcan flying CERT-2 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
What a long, strange trip it’s been: Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams finally concluded their never-ending story of Boeing’s Crewed Flight Test of Starliner yesterday when they landed in a SpaceX Crew Dragon in the Gulf of America near Tallahassee, Florida. Also aboard were NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, with the four of them designated as Crew 9 on ISS Expedition 71/72.
The Crew 9 mission came to an end yesterday with SpaceX Crew Dragon ‘Freedom’ splashing down in the Gulf of America. Photo: NASA
After a nominal re-entry, the four landed at 5:57 p.m. EDT. Recovery teams on SpaceX vessels secured the spacecraft and assisted the crew while being circled by curious dolphins. Following their arrival on shore, the astronauts began the return procedures: extensive medical checks followed by travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for debriefings and reunions with their families.
Boeing’s Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission was as an 8-10 day demonstration flight for Starliner to validate its capabilities in transporting astronauts to and from the International Space Station. However, technical concerns, including issues with the spacecraft’s propulsion system, led NASA to opt for an uncrewed return of Starliner to conduct further testing and modifications before operational flights could commence.
Starliner CST-100 in launch preparation, May 31, 2024
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Boeing CFT, Post-landing Photo: NASA
For their part, Boeing disagreed with the decision, with the company arguing internally with NASA that Starliner was safe to ferry Williams and Williams back to Earth as planned. That was not to be, as NASA decided to fold the pair into Expedition 71/72 on ISS, and to bump two of the astronauts designated for Crew 9 — NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Stephanie Wilson — from the mission.
Starliner would eventually return to Earth uncrewed in September, 2024, safely completing its mission via remote control and on-board programming.
Crew 9 Stats
During their missions, Williams and Wilmore traveled 121,347,491 miles, spent 286 days in space, and completed 4,576 Earth orbits. Hague and Gorbunov covered 72,553,920 miles, remained in orbit for 171 days, and completed 2,736 orbits. This mission marked Gorbunov’s first spaceflight. Hague has accumulated 374 days in space across two missions, Williams 608 days over three missions, and Wilmore 464 days across three flights.
Due to the unexpected long-term mission, Williams is now in second place for time spent in space by a female astronaut. Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson has accumulated a total of 675 days in space across multiple missions, making her the most experienced astronaut in terms of cumulative days, a record that Whitson will add to she commands the private Axiom Ax-4 mission to ISS later this year.
Curious dolphins circled Crew Dragon as SpaceX secured the capsule. Photo: NASA
Crew-9’s mission included scientific research, maintenance operations, and technology demonstrations. Williams performed two spacewalks, partnering with Wilmore and Hague to remove a radio frequency antenna, collect external surface samples, and install protective patches on an X-ray telescope’s light filters. Williams set a new record for cumulative spacewalking time by a female astronaut, logging 62 hours and 6 minutes outside the station.
The crew conducted over 150 scientific studies and technology tests, dedicating more than 900 hours to research. Their work included plant growth experiments, stem cell technology investigations for treating blood disorders and cancer, and evaluations of circadian rhythm-supporting lighting systems. They also launched the first wooden satellite and studied microorganism survival in space by analyzing external samples from the station.
The mission marked the fourth flight of the Dragon spacecraft named Freedom, previously used for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 and Axiom Missions 2 and 3. Following retrieval, the spacecraft will undergo inspections and refurbishments at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in preparation for future missions.
Shift Change
Crew-9’s comes shortly after the launch and docking at ISS of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-10, which completed the Crew 9 rotation. NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers; JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi and Russian cosmonaut Kirill Peskov will now spend several months aboard Station, and will advance the scientific and engineering work planned for their stay.
First Full Successful NASA CLPS Lunar Lander Set To End Mission
A solar eclipse as seen from the lunar surface by Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 lander on March 14, 2025 Photo: Firefly Aerospace
The first fully successful lunar lander mission in the NASA CLPS program is nearly complete. Lunar sunset at Mare Crisium is expected on March 16, 2025, and without sunlight to power the vehicle’s solar panels, the operations of Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 will end.
This morning on X.com, Firefly Aerospace said
Notably, the last major act of the lander will be to “capture the sunset glow and dust levitation seen by the Apollo 17 astronauts as they were leaving the Moon.” If Firefly engineers are able to capture that rare and only once-seen phenomena, it will be a fitting finale for a thoroughly successful mission.
Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. —Dylan Thomas
Sunset On The Moon Is A Very Strange Time There
During the Apollo 17 mission, astronauts observed a faint light near the Moon’s horizon during sunrise and sunset, known as lunar horizon glow. This phenomenon is attributed to the electrostatic levitation of lunar dust particles.
On the Moon’s daylit side, solar ultraviolet and X-ray radiation can cause dust particles to become positively charged, leading them to repel from the surface and rise to altitudes ranging from meters to kilometers.
Conversely, on the night side, dust particles acquire a negative charge due to interactions with the solar wind. At the lunar terminator—the dividing line between day and night—intense electric fields may develop, resulting in horizontal dust transport, sometimes referred to as “Moon storms.”
Blue Ghost will attempt to further measure this phenomenon, as it has only been witnessed once, and that some fifty-three years ago.
This Just After A Solar Eclipse
Two days ago, Blue Ghost captured a solar eclipse, albeit the the first one recorded from the lunar surface — on Earth, a lunar eclipse was underway, and the Earth’s shadow was darkening the face of the moon for observers on the ground.
Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 successfully landed on the Moon on March 2, 2025, at 3:34 a.m. EST, near Mons Latreille within the Mare Crisium basin. This mission, part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, delivered ten NASA science and technology instruments to the lunar surface.
Firefly’s Blue Ghost 1 lander in lunar orbit in February, 2025. Photo: Firefly Aerospace
Among the payloads, the Lunar PlanetVac (LPV) successfully collected, transferred, and sorted lunar soil using pressurized nitrogen gas. The Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) operated effectively, demonstrating potential applications in mitigating lunar dust accumulation on various surfaces.
The Next Generation Lunar Retroreflectors (NGLR) provided precise measurements of the Earth-Moon distance, contributing to our understanding of the lunar interior and fundamental physics. The Reconfigurable, Radiation-Tolerant Computer System (RadPC) demonstrated resilience to the Moon’s radiation environment, marking a significant step in developing robust computing technologies for space missions.
Blue Ghost Mission 1 cast its shadow on the lunar surface in March 2025 Photo: Firefly Aerospace
The Lunar GNSS Receiver Experiment (LuGRE) successfully received GPS and Galileo signals at lunar distances, proving the viability of using these systems for lunar navigation. The Lunar Instrumentation for Subsurface Thermal Exploration with Rapidity (LISTER) measured heat flow from the Moon’s interior, providing insights into its thermal properties.
The Lunar Environment Heliospheric X-ray Imager (LEXI) captured images of Earth’s magnetosphere interacting with the solar wind, enhancing our understanding of space weather phenomena. Additionally, the mission serendipitously captured images of a total lunar eclipse from the Moon’s surface, offering a unique perspective on this celestial event.
NASA awarded Blue Ghost Mission 1 to Firefly Aerospace in February 2021 as part of the NASA CLPS program. The contract was valued at approximately $93.3 million, making Blue Ghost 1 a bargain providing far more scientific returns than it cost.
Falcon 9 rising off of LC-39A Friday evening Photo: Derek Newsome
It was a good day to have a good day here in Florida, and that’s exactly what NASA, SpaceX and Crew 10 had today at Kennedy Space Center.
Falcon 9 lifted off, carrying three astronauts and one cosmonaut toward orbit and the International Space Station just as the sun was starting to set in the west. Some seven and a half minutes later, SpaceX booster B1090 completed its duty for the day by landing at LZ-1 in Cape Canaveral, 8.8 miles south of LC-39A.
Liftoff of Crew 10. Photo: Charles Boyer
Mechanical issues had delayed this launch, which was originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 12th, but hydraulic issues with ground-side equipment scotched that attempt, with the second launch attempt planned for today. This evening’s attempt was literally picture-perfect, and Falcon 9 rose like clockwork after a quiet countdown.
Can’t help but cheer: press photographers capturing the launch of Crew 10. Photo: Charles Boyer, Talk of Titusville
Crew Dragon Endurance is now in orbit, with NASA Astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, JAXA Astronaut Takuya Onishi and Roscosmos Cosmonaut Kirill Peskov aboard. The spacecraft will track down ISS, with docking planned to dock autonomously to the forward-facing port of the station’s Harmony module at approximately 11:30 p.m. ET tomorrow.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
While not officially announced by SpaceX, Starlink 12-16 is expected to launch early Saturday morning.
Organization: SpaceX
Location: Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket: Falcon 9
Pad: Space Launch Complex 40
Status: To Be Confirmed
Status Info: Awaiting official confirmation – current date is known with some certainty due to information found at secondary sources.
Window Opens: Saturday, 03/15/2025 6:28:00 AM
Window Closes: Saturday, 03/15/2025 10:59:00 AM
Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description: A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.
Crew 10 Launch Gallery
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvillePhoto: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvillePhoto: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvillePhoto: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvillePhoto: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvillePhoto: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvillePhoto: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvillePhoto: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvillePhoto: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvillePhoto: Charles Boyer / Talk of TitusvillePhoto: Derek NewsomePhoto: Derek Newsome
The FAA released a statement today announcing the draft results of an Environmental Assessment for more than doubling the allowable launch operations at SpaceX’s facility at Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral starting in 2026. The assessment also contains information on the construction and operation of a landing zone at SLC-40 with up to 34 first-stage booster landings at the new landing zone annually.
The document outlines a Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
Falcon 9
Talk of Titusville first reported on SpaceX’s plans to build a new landing zone at SLC-40 in January of this year. In 2023, the 2-pad launch site has been allocated to Cocoa, Florida based Vaya Space and also Phantom Space through the Department of the Air Force’s Launch Pad Allocation Strategy (LPAS), a program designed to support the commercial space market and demand at the Eastern Range.
FAA Statement
The FAA is posting for public review a Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing the SpaceX proposal to increase Falcon 9 operations from 50 to up to 120 per year from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The Draft EA also reviews the construction of a first-stage booster landing zone at the site with up to 34 landings per year.
In order to meet the Department of the Air Force (DAF) National Environmental Policy Act requirements, the FAA has also posted a link to the Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for public comment on behalf of DAF.
A virtual public meeting will be held on April 16 and the public comment period closes on April 24, 2025.
“The FAA has preliminarily concluded that the Proposed Action would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment.”
No Adverse Effects On Natural Resources / Energy Use
[The FAA has preliminarily concluded that] “the Proposed Action is not expected to contribute in any substantive 17 manner to adverse cumulative effects to supplies of natural resources or energy use.”
Negligible Effects On Increased Hazardous Waste
“Cumulative effects of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions with the Proposed 13 Action would not contribute a noticeable incremental effect from hazardous materials and waste.”
Minimal Effect On Public Parks And Recreation
“Reasonably foreseeable future actions in the area, such as SLS launches at LC-39B, may require temporary closures of both the refuge and the seashore by USFWS and NPS. These temporary closures are related to crowd control and access for emergency services and are not related to a public safety hazard from a launch. If any such closures were to occur, they would be both infrequent and temporary in nature. As a result, the cumulative effects of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions with the Proposed Action are not expected to result in a significant impact to [publicly owned park and recreation areas that are open to the general public.] resources.”
No Significant Adverse Effect On Land Use
“The Proposed Action would not result in significant adverse cumulative land use impacts.”
No Significant Cumulative Effects On Coastal Resources
“There would be no significant cumulative effects to coastal resources.”
Little Effect On Wildlife
“Several of the projects [..] include construction and development in both undisturbed and 37 previously disturbed areas. Disturbance to existing launch areas or other developed and semi-developed 38 The FAA Office of Commercial Space Transportation Cumulative Effects Draft Environmental Assessment 4-10 March 2025 Falcon 9 Operations at SLC-40 sites would have little effect on wildlife because these areas have limited habitat value.”
Some Effect On Wetland Habitats
“The Proposed 1 Action and some of the actions in Table 4-2 involve clearing of native upland habitat. Some of the actions 2 in Table 4-2 could also potentially involve clearing and/or filling of a limited amount of wetland habitat. 3 The Proposed Action would not directly affect wetlands; potential impacts would consist of 4 construction -related sedimentation from runoff.”
“Cumulative loss and fragmentation of native upland and 5 wetland habitats may cause long-term effects on wildlife breeding, roosting, or foraging, particularly of 6 individuals with limited mobility and those without corridors to another suitable habitat. Construction 7 noise and general disturbance could cause similar impacts, but the effects would be temporary.”
Have Your Say
A virtual public meeting will be held on April 16 and the public comment period closes on April 24, 2025.
The FAA invites interested parties to submit comments on the Draft EA. Instructions on how to submit comments can be found on the FAA webpage linked here:
Interested parties are invited to submit comments on the Draft EA by April 24, 2025.
The FAA will hold a virtual public meeting on the Draft EA on April 16, 2025, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM (Eastern). Interested parties must register to join the virtual public meeting. Registration is now available at the link below.
If any accommodation for public meeting is needed (such as additional translation services), please submit a request by April 4, 2025 to SpaceXFalconSLC40@icf.com.
Starlink 12-21 as seen from Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville. Photo: Charles Boyer, Talk of Titusville
It wasn’t the launch we wanted, but it was a launch that we needed after the disappointment of Crew 10 scrubbing earlier in the evening last night: SpaceX launched Starlink with another batch of 21 Starlink satellites from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Wednesday evening. Liftoff was at 10:35 PM ET, with Falcon 9 taking the southeasterly familiar path towards The Bahamas as has been the case with all other Starlink Group 20 launches. The mission was successful.
Starlink 12-21’s trajectory Graphic: Talk of Titusville
After multiple delays, Falcon 9 finally flew from SLC-40, ending a rare dry spell of launches from the Eastern Range. This mission was initially delayed for checkouts after an issue with Falcon 9 booster B1086 and Starlink 12-20. On that mission, the booster experienced a fuel leak and was destroyed by fire shortly after landing on March 2 and SpaceX spent time reviewing data from that event and also making sure it would not repeat itself during last night’s flight.
A crowd gathered at Rotary Riverfront Park to watch the flight of Falcon 9 from SLC-40 last night. The rocket’s plume of flame temporarily turned night into day and vividly reflected light off of the Indian River. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
High winds at ground level scrubbed a launch attempt on Monday. SpaceX announced an attempt but did not fuel the Falcon 9 used for Starlink12-21 on Tuesday, following the launch of NASA’s SPHEREx and PUNCH missions from Vandenberg Space Force Base and also because of the then-upcoming launch of Crew-10 (which was delayed last night after a hydraulic issue on the launch pad.)
After completing its part in the ascent of the mission, booster B1069 landed successfull on ASDS A Shortfall Of Gravitas after its 22nd flight. There have no reports of a repetition of the issue that ended B1086’s lifetime. ASOG and B1069 will now travel to Port Canaveral where the booster will be unloaded, transported to SpaceX’s refurbishment facility at Kennedy Space Center and ostensibly prepared for its next flight at some future date.
Mission Description: SpaceX Crew-10 is the tenth crewed operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
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